Ulster County Kicks off Healthy Ulster Week

ULSTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE MIKE HEIN VISITS CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION TO KICK OFF HEALTHY ULSTER COUNTY WEEK AND SUPPORT “LET’S MOVE! ULSTER”

Ulster County Executive Hein attended a Let’s Move! Ulster dance rehearsal to encourage Ulster County residents and all of New York State to vote for Let’s Move! Ulster’s video in First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move! Communities on the Move Video Challenge.”

Since taking office, the County Executive has worked to make Ulster the healthiest county in New York State. This goal can only be accomplished with support from the community, and the Center for Creative Education has been a partner since the beginning.

“The Center for Creative Education exemplifies what is great about Ulster County,” said County Executive Hein. “For 20 years CCE has been working to keep Kingston healthy. When I asked for community support to make Ulster County the healthiest county in New York State, Drew was one of the first to respond. When the First Lady created the Let’s Move!, Drew and CCE got 900 people moving in Dietz Stadium last year. I am looking forward to continuing our partnership.”

“When the First Lady put out the Let’s Move! challenge to the whole nation, CCE responded because we are committed to the wellness of our community,” said Bryant “Drew” Andrews, Center for Creative Education’s Artistic Wellness Director. “We take a holistic approach to wellness. In order for our community to be healthy, each person must be healthy. And in order for each person to be healthy, we all need to focus on fitness, healthy living, nutrition, education and personal growth. It is our goal to make Kingston a beacon community for Michelle Obama’s national program and to help the County Executive make Ulster County the healthiest county in New York State.”

Since President Obama first took office, the First Lady has made fighting childhood obesity and healthy eating a priority. As part of this effort, her “Let’s Move! Communities on the Move Video Challenge” invited faith-based, community, and other non-profit organizations working with children to create short videos (one to three minutes long) highlighting their participation in Let’s Move! and efforts to reverse the trend of childhood obesity. Participating organizations were encouraged to create videos showcasing programs that are creative, effective, sustainable, replicable, and inspirational. Let’s Move! Ulster is the only organization from all of New York State currently competing to win this challenge.

Click here to watch the videos and vote . Stephen Gilman, the Center for Creative Education’s Education Director is urging everyone to “keep the Let’s Move! tab in your browser open and refresh to vote (hit Control R or Command R) every day. Voting takes place until May 11, 2012.”

As part of the County Executive efforts to make Ulster County the healthiest county in New York State, he is hosting the 2nd Annual Healthy Ulster County Week from May 19 – 28, 2012 . To provide tools for healthier living, this Week includes events where residents can exercise more, eat better and increase awareness of their health. Businesses and non-profits are encouraged to offer residents health-related discounts and activities. To learn more about Healthy Ulster County Week, go to: www.UlsterCountyNY.gov or www.HealthyUlsterCounty.net.